U.S. patent number 4,352,433 [Application Number 06/103,777] was granted by the patent office on 1982-10-05 for rod and bracket assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kirsch Company. Invention is credited to James A. Ford.
United States Patent |
4,352,433 |
Ford |
October 5, 1982 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Rod and bracket assembly
Abstract
A rod and bracket assembly for supporting a curtain or drapery
and having rod means capable of extending through, and holding in
an upright manner, a wide hem at the upper end of a drapery or
curtain, whereby to simulate a valance at said upper end. End cap
means are connected to the ends of said rod and are removably
attachable to appropriate hook means on brackets, which are
mountable on a wall. Thus, said end cap means provides the
connecting means between said brackets and said rod and facilitate
the mounting of the curtain onto said rod without snagging and
provides an attractive termination for the ends of such rod.
Inventors: |
Ford; James A. (Sherman
Township, St. Joseph County, MI) |
Assignee: |
Kirsch Company (Sturgis,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22296988 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/103,777 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1979 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/105.1;
248/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H
1/122 (20130101); A47H 1/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47H
1/122 (20060101); A47H 1/00 (20060101); A47H
1/02 (20060101); A47H 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/105.1-105.3 ;52/36
;248/262,263,221.4 ;160/330 ;16/94R,94D,96R,96D ;403/326 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blanchard, Flynn, Thiel, Boutell
& Tanis
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A device for the support of a drapery by extension thereof
through a hem at the top of said drapery, comprising:
elongated straight rod means having rearwardly projecting flanges
along the upper and lower edges thereof;
an end bracket attachable to a supporting surface and having plate
means with a pair of remotely facing top and bottom hooks
projecting beyond the outer edge of said plate means; and
an end cap fixedly but releasably attached to said rod means and
being slidable therewith through the hem of said drapery, the end
cap having a first portion inserted between adjacent ends of said
flanges for supporting said rod means and a second portion arranged
for covering both the adjacent end of said rod means and said outer
edge of said plate means, said end cap including slot defining
means for receiving and removably retaining said hooks.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rod means has a
substantially planar front wall of substantial height such that the
portion of the drapery sleeved thereon gives the appearance of a
valance.
3. A device for the support of a drapery by extension thereof
through a hem at the top of said drapery, comprising:
elongated rod means having reversely bent flanges along each of the
top and bottom edges of said rod means;
an adjustable end bracket attachable to a supporting surface and
having plate means with a pair of remotely facing top and bottom
hooks projecting beyond the outer edge of said plate means; and
an end cap having a first portion insertable between adjacent ends
of said reversely bent flanges for supporting said rod means and a
second portion arranged for covering both the adjacent end of said
rod means and said outer edge of said plate means, said end cap
including slot defining means for receiving and removably retaining
said hooks.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said top hook has and retains a
locked relationship with said slot defining means when and after
said bottom hook is moved into hooked engagement with said slot
defining means.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein said hooks are parallel with said
plate means, but offset therefrom toward the center of the rod
means.
6. The device of claim 3, wherein said end cap is provided with a
first face lying against and covering the end of said rod means and
a second face substantially perpendicular to said first face for
overlapping and covering the outer edge of said end bracket
adjacent said end of said rod means.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said end cap includes also a
curved surface connecting the edge of said first face remote from
said end bracket with the edge of said second face remote from said
rod means whereby to facilitate the passage of said rod means
through said hem and further to facilitate the passage of said hem
beyond said rod means and onto said end bracket.
8. The device of claim 3, wherein said first portion has a central
web extending from the said second portion and flange means
extending along the free edges of said web, whereby said first
portion is generally I-shaped in vertical cross section and is
generally T-shaped in horizontal cross section.
9. The device of claim 8, including a pair of projections extending
from the upper and lower edges of said first portion and parallel
with said web for reception into appropriate slots in said rod
means whereby said end cap is releasably secured to said rod
means.
10. A device for the support of a drapery by extension thereof
through a hem at the top of said drapery, comprising:
a straight elongated rod having a channel-like cross-sectional
profile, said rod including a substantially planar front wall and
upper and lower flanges projecting rearwardly therefrom;
an end bracket attachable to a supporting surface and projecting
outwardly therefrom, said bracket being of a plate-like
construction and having a pair of vertically spaced top and bottom
hooks projecting forwardly away from the support surface; and
one-piece end cap means fixedly but releasably attached to the free
end of said rod means for facilitating the slidable insertion of
said rod means through the drapery hem;
said end cap means including a cover portion disposed directly
adjacent the free end of said rod means for closing and covering
said free end, said cover portion having a surface which
substantially abuts and directly overlies the free end surface of
the rod means, said cover portion as it projects longitudinally
outwardly from the free end of said rod means being provided with
an exterior surface configuration which is rounded to facilitate
its slidable insertion through the hem, said cover portion having a
cross-sectional profile as viewed in a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction of said rod means which approximately
corresponds to the profile enclosed by the cross-sectional
configuration of said rod means, said cover portion being free of
any projections which would project sidewardly therefrom
significantly beyond the cross-sectional profile of said rod means
so as to not interfere with the slidable insertion of the cover
portion and rod means through said hem;
said cover portion having slot means formed therein and opening
rearwardly thereof for receiving therein said upper and lower hooks
for permitting said end cap means to be rigidly but releasably
mounted on said bracket, said cover portion having a rear wall
which covers the adjacent outer end of said bracket;
said end cap means also having a mounting portion which is fixed to
said cover portion and projects longitudinally therefrom so as to
be disposed in overlapping relationship with a portion of said rod
means as disposed adjacent the free end thereof, said mounting
portion being slidably telescopically engaged with said flanges and
being disposed in its entirety behind the front wall of said rod
means, said mounting portion having a cross section as viewed
perpendicular to said longitudinal direction which does not exceed
the cross section of said cover portion so as to not interfere with
the slidable insertion of the end cap and rod means through said
hem, said detent means coacting between said mounting portion and
said flange for fixedly but releasably attaching said end cap means
to said rod means.
11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said cover portion does
not longitudinally overlap said rod means, and wherein said cover
portion has a front surface which is substantially flush with the
front surface of said front wall.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said detent means
includes an opening formed in said flange at a location spaced
inwardly from the free end of said rod means, and a camlike
projection formed on said mounting portion which resiliently snaps
into said opening when the mounting portion is slidably
telescopically engaged with said flanges.
13. A device according to claim 10, wherein said detent means
includes an opening formed in said flange at a location spaced
inwardly from the free end of said rod, and a camlike projection
formed on said mounting portion, said camlike projection
resiliently snapping into said opening when the mounting portion is
slidably telescopically engaged with said flanges.
14. A device according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein said end
cap means is an integral one-piece member formed of a plastics
material.
15. A device according to claim 10, wherein the front wall of the
rod is of substantial height such that the portion of the drapery
sleeved thereon gives the appearance of a valance.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rod and bracket assembly for supporting
a curtain or drapery having a relatively wide upper hem and
particularly relates to such an assembly having a rod for holding
said hem in a substantially vertical position and one which is
quickly and easily insertable into such hem and attachable and
detachable from supporting brackets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the pending application of Elvira Caroselli, U.S. Ser. No.
009,284, filed Feb. 2, 1979, and entitled "Valance and Drapery
Assembly", there is set forth and claimed a novel concept in the
provision of a relatively wide valance extending through a
correspondingly wide hem at the upper end of a drapery for
supporting said hem in an upstanding position and providing for the
drapery the distinctive and attractive appearance characteristics
associated with such wide hem. Said application is licensed
exclusively to the assignee of the present application.
The subject matter of said pending application is well conceived
and fully capable of carrying out its purposes. However, as same
was studied for manufacturing and distribution, a number of
improvements over the prior art, from the standpoint of assembly
and shipping, were developed which it is the purpose of the present
invention to cover.
Particularly, the assembly set forth in said pending application
incorporates integral, transverse end brackets which are
space-consuming for the proper containment thereof and which also
render difficult the application thereto of the hem of a drapery.
This occasioned both undesirable space requirements in shipping and
undersirable inconvenience in applying a drapery thereto when same
reached the ultimate customer.
Accordingly, the objects of the invention include:
1. To provide an improved design for a rod and bracket assembly as
set forth in the above-identified pending Caroselli application
which will reduce the amount of space required for shipment of same
while preserving the basic characteristics and advantages of the
drapery mounting structure set forth in said pending
application.
2. To provide an improved drapery rod, as aforesaid, which will
include improved means for inserting the valance portion thereof
into the hem of a drapery while maintaining the space-saving
features above mentioned and maintaining also the basic appearance
and desirable features of the original Caroselli design.
3. To provide an improved rod assembly, as aforesaid, which will be
of such simplicity as to involve a minimum of construction
cost.
4. To provide a rod assembly, as aforesaid, which can be readily
put together by the ultimate user with only simple instructions and
with a minimum of effort.
5. To provide an improved rod assembly, as aforesaid, which will be
sturdy and therefore long lasting with a minimum of maintenance
attention.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to
persons acquainted with devices of this general sort upon reading
the following specification and inspection of the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a portion of a rod and bracket
assembly embodying the invention mounted upon a wall and indicating
schematically the attachment of a drapery thereto.
FIG. 2 is an oblique view of said portion of a rod and bracket
assembly with the rod in position for a final attachment thereof to
the supporting bracket.
FIG. 3 is an end view of said rod and bracket assembly.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragment of a front elevational view of the
rod of said assembly.
FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line V--V of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a broken, top view of the bracket with a fragment of the
rod applied thereto.
FIG. 7 is an edge view of bracket.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIII--VIII of FIG.
4.
FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of said rod.
FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line X--X of FIG. 4.
FIG. 11 is a section taken on the line XI--XI of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a rod 1
having end caps of which one is shown at 20 and hereinafter further
described, said rod being by means of said end caps detachably
mounted onto a pair of end brackets of which one appears at 2. The
other end bracket, not shown, is provided at the other end of the
rod and is a mirror image of the end bracket 2. Said end brackets
are mounted upon a vertical surface, as a wall, in any convenient
manner, as by screws 5. A curtain or drapery 15 (FIG. 1) has a wide
hem at its upper edge which is sleeved upon the rod 1 and simulates
a valance, even though it is part of the curtain.
Said rod 1 is preferably of rolled or extruded metal, as aluminum
or steel, either of which may be plastic coated if desired and/or
otherwise coated or finished in any desired conventional manner,
usually anodized if aluminum or enameled or otherwise coated if
steel. The said rod 1 has upper and lower reversely curved flanges
3 and 4 both for effecting proper engagement with the hem of said
drapery 15 and also for engagement with the hereinafter-described
end caps 20. Said rod is also provided with upper and lower slots
adjacent each end, such as the upper and lower slots 6 and 7
(respectively) as appearing in FIG. 11.
Said bracket 2 preferably comprises a pair of substantially
parallel components 8 and 9 (FIGS. 2 and 7). The component 9
comprises a support plate 10 and a mounting flange 12, said
mounting flange 12 providing for the mounting of said bracket onto
a vertical surface, as a wall, in any convenient manner. The
component 8 comprises an extension plate 11 having oppositely
extending hooks 13 and 14 at the front edge thereof. Suitable
means, as screws or bolts, extend through said plate 11 and also
through an appropriate slot in the plate 10 of the component 9 for
adjustment of said component 8 toward or away from the wall as
desired, followed by securement in a selected adjusted
position.
The rod supporting hooks 13 and 14 are integral with the edge of
said plate 11 remote from the wall and may if desired extend
coplanar with said plate 11. However, it is preferable to have same
offset as shown (FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8) in order that the
hereinafter-described end cap may overlap the lateral portions 15
thereof as hereinafter further set forth. The hooks are shaped in
any known manner for engagement with appropriate portions of the
end caps as hereinafter further described. The components 8 and 9
(FIG. 7) are preferably provided with interfitting reinforcement
flanges 8A and 9A and reinforcing guide grooves 8B and 9B as
desired.
As above noted, the bracket provided at the rightward end of the
rod is a mirror image of the bracket 2 and, hence, no detailed
description thereof is needed, excepting to note that the base
plate 9 may be made as a universal component usable at both ends
while the extension plates 8 will need to be made as mirror image,
right and left hand units.
Each of the end caps 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6) comprises a plug or
mounting portion 21 and a cover portion 22. Said plug portion 21
comprises in vertical cross section (FIG. 11) a generally I-shaped
member having a central web 23, a top flange 26 and a bottom flange
27. In horizontal cross section (FIG. 8) same defines a generally
T-shape comprising said web 23 and a side flange 24. Said top and
bottom flanges are further provided with upper and lower locking
projections 28 and 29, respectively, for cooperation as hereinafter
further described with the slots 6 and 7, respectively, of the rod
1. Said projections have sloped edges 28A and 29A, respectively,
for effecting easy entrance of said projections into said slots.
Said projections also having locking end surfaces 28B and 29B for
holding same firmly within said slots upon completion of entry
thereinto.
Upper and lower slots 36 and 37 (FIGS. 4 and 10) are provided as
shown through said cover portion 22 for receiving the hooks 13 and
14, respectively. If desired, for the purpose of minimizing
requirements for plastics material, same may be connected by an
elongated slot 38. Respective upper and lower surfaces of said
slots 36 and 37 are flared as indicated at 36A and 37A (FIG. 10) to
provide edges 36B and 37B engageable by the hooks 13 and 14. In
order to assist in leading said hooks into said slots 36 and 37,
the ends of said slots facing the bracket 2 are also flared as
indicated at 41 in FIG. 8. The lower edge 14A (FIG. 10) of the hook
14 is so contoured with respect to the edge 37B, and having in mind
the resiliency of the plastics material being used for said end
cap, that, when the upper hook 13 is fully engaged, the lower hook
14 will pass over the edge 37B in either direction with a slight
resistance to such movement. It will thus snap into position over
the edge 37B as shown in FIG. 10 or be removable therefrom when
desired.
Thus, the end cap 20 is firmly, but removably, secured both to the
rod 1 and to the bracket 2 for forming a firm, sturdy assembly
fully capable of supporting the drapery in the manner desired.
The cover portion 22 of said end cap 20 is arranged both to close
and cover the otherwise raw end of said rod 1 and is also arranged
to cover in an attractive manner the otherwise exposed end of the
bracket 2. In this embodiment, as is preferable, said cover portion
22 has a flat surface 31 perpendicular to and wider than the width
of the adjacent plug portion 21 and arranged to abut the adjacent
end of the rod 1. Said cover portion 22 also has a rear surface 32
positioned substantially perpendicular to the surface 31. The
remote edges of the surfaces 31 and 32 are connected by a surface
of any attractive contour, here a generally arcuate surface 33,
which is preferably slightly rounded at 34 where it meets with the
surface 32. Said cover member 22 along with the surfaces 31 and 32
are so arranged and proportioned that when said plug portion 21 is
inserted into an end of the rod 1 with the surface 31 positioned
snugly against the end of said rod, the surface 32 of said cover
portion will overlap and cover the surface 15 of the end bracket
2.
There is a corresponding plastic end cap (not shown) at the
rightward end of the rod 1, said corresponding cap being a mirror
image of, but usually slightly larger than, the cap 20 above
described. The increased size of said corresponding end cap is
required to fit snugly within the somewhat larger outside section
of a typical, two-piece adjustable rod.
In use, said plastic end caps 20 are inserted into the rod 1 from
each end thereof with the projections 28 and 29, and their
counterparts on the rightward end cap, snapping respectively into
the slots 6 and 7 of said rod and into corresponding slots on the
rightward end of said rod. With the end caps 20 thus fixed in
position, said rod is passed through the hem of the drapery. The
end cap, regardless of the direction in which said rod is passed
through said hem, functions to ease said passage through such hem
and to prevent snagging of the hem by the raw end of the rod.
The rod, by means of the end caps, is now attached to the
supporting hooks 13 and 14 of the end bracket 2 together with the
corresponding hooks on the end bracket at the rightward end of the
rod in the manner already above described. The assembly is now
complete. If desired, the hem of the drapery may be pulled around
onto either or both of the brackets for it will be noted that there
is nothing at the corner structure or on such brackets to interfere
therewith.
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has
been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *